Design for Railways Design for Railways Design for Railways

The bachelor’s thesis Railway Design maps the history of railway vehicle liveries in Slovakia since 1945 and applies these findings to the creation of a new visual identity for Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ŽSSK) - Railway Company of Slovakia. The practical outcome resulted in the publication Redesign of ŽSSK Vehicles, which focuses on color schemes, a navigational system, and a set of pictograms applicable to both the interior and exterior of trains.

The new visual identity preserves the essence of Daniel Blonski’s iconic 2008 design while complementing it with a gray and orange stripe and a bold black “Boomerang” element on the driver’s cab. This combination provides greater flexibility and recognizability across different types of vehicles.

The project demonstrates how graphic design can transform the visual identity of public transport by bridging historical layers with current user needs. Here, the train becomes more than a means of transportation — it is reimagined as a legible and aesthetic medium of communication that shapes the daily experience of passengers.

The work also includes an interactive web application, railwaydesign.xyz, which allows the public to assemble their own train in the new design.

At the same time, the project opens a broader debate on the role of design in public space. It shows that even seemingly technical modifications — such as color schemes or pictograms — have a significant impact on user comfort, cultural identity, and the way people perceive the quality of public services.